Clinton man charged in city shooting

A Clinton man has been charged in the shooting of another man following a verbal altercation at a residence on College Street last week.

According to Clinton Police Capt. Donald Edwards, last Friday, around 9:55 p.m., officers responded to the emergency room at Sampson Regional Medical Center in reference to a gunshot victim.

Officers found that Miles Andrew Pope, 29, of Wrye Branch Road, Clinton, had a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the upper right thigh. Pope told officers that the incident occurred at 704 College St. According to Pope, he got into an argument with a person he knew as “Greg,” later identified as Gregory Winston Fulford, 46, from Balsey Street, Clinton.

Officers responded to the College Street address, where they “found evidence of the shooting,” the police captain noted. Detectives were called to the scene and, through investigation, found that an argument occurred between Pope and Fulford during which Fulford reportedly shot Pope in the upper thigh with a derringer.

The reason for the argument “was not clear,” Edwards stated.

Investigators seized the weapon at the scene. Fulford turned himself in to Neighborhood Improvement Team investigators the next day, police officials said.

Fulford has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, violation of carry concealed permit/consuming while carrying and discharging a weapon within the city.

He received a $25,000 unsecured bond. His first appearance in court is set for Aug. 26.